Lukaku

[Joey66]

.....fair point, Joey, his strength is going the other way. There might have to be total rethink of the team shape, I'm sure the 2 defensive midfielders (and Barry in particular) are there to cover our 2 attacking full backs. If we become more expansive, Coleman and Baines might have to be more selective in their sortees forward.

Yes but this season teams have sussed us out stop our full backs where else is the creativity?

 

[Seamus Colemole]

.....I reckon it does. I wonder with Lukaku if it's more about concentration. At times he has shown fine hold up play and some subtle touches, the capability is there. A couple of away performances in Europe he was almost unplayable. He has been inconsistent, though.

So how bad must he have been at 16 before he had 5 years of playing football at a high level and being coached by top class coaches at that high level?

Either he was probably one of the worst players ever at that part of the game and has improved a lot since, or he has barely improved at all.

If a 21 year old made his first team debut at that age and then was still making really basic mistakes at 26 people wouldn't make excuses for him.

If he was having games where he didn't play well, inconstistencies over season like all young players i'd understand.

But people love to say how he's scored more goals at this age than pretty much every other top striker yet never compare his awful control and atempts at passing on a regular basis to those same players, i don't remember Sergio Agureo or Alan Shearer being unable to do the basics on a regular basis at 21 or after 5 years of first team football.

In fact name another 21 year old striker who actually plays through balls for opposition strikers because his control is so bad?

As always, Lukaku is an anonomoly for his age in that he excels in scoring goals but is pretty god damn awful at most other, basic parts of the game. Most 21 year olds will be more in the middle.

 

[Joey66]

My hero Joe Royle got massive stick on the terraces when he was introduced in to the first team, He proved the doubters wrong - lets see how Lukarku pans out he would score loads playing for the team with a midfield that was faster and creative his 9 goals in the prem have saved us from relegation imo!

 

[toffeejack]

Hit the nail on the head with that last question and Rom knows it to. That's the problem with him and why he seems so content. No pressure on him at all, no competition. Regardless of how he plays (usually dire) he will be strolling out each week leading the line.

A handful, one handful of good games at the turn of the year is all he has mustered for over 12 months now. Since coming back from his injury last season he has looked quite average. As I've said, this includes his world cup.

Maybe it is just one of those seasons but he has not shown any progression at all this season, nothing. He hasn't progressed into the player we thought we were getting.

yeah people need to remember he's 21 coming off no rest for a couple of years because of that world cup. the whole league has been poor quality wise because of the WC - he's also been playing a large majority of games nowhere near fit because out only other striker is kone. we have to get another one in the summer - it's a massive must - naismith isn't a striker imo.

every time rom had a shot yesterday he seemed to be bending down and stroking his foot.

 

[toffeejack]

So how bad must he have been at 16 before he had 5 years of playing football at a high level and being coached by top class coaches at that high level?

Either he was probably one of the worst players ever at that part of the game and has improved a lot since, or he has barely improved at all.

If a 21 year old made his first team debut at that age and then was still making really basic mistakes at 26 people wouldn't make excuses for him.

If he was having games where he didn't play well, inconstistencies over season like all young players i'd understand.

But people love to say how he's scored more goals at this age than pretty much every other top striker yet never compare his awful control and atempts at passing on a regular basis to those same players, i don't remember Sergio Agureo or Alan Shearer being unable to do the basics on a regular basis at 21 or after 5 years of first team football.

In fact name another 21 year old striker who actually plays through balls for opposition strikers because his control is so bad?

As always, Lukaku is an anonomoly for his age in that he excels in scoring goals but is pretty god damn awful at most other, basic parts of the game. Most 21 year olds will be more in the middle.

if he was good at those things you quote as well as having his goalscoring record - there's no way in hell he'd be playing for a mid-table PL team. i think it's best to focus on the strengths not the weaknesses and gladly i think our manager does that as well although he has made an attempt to try and educate him on the weaknesses as well.

 

[blue4eva77]

My hero Joe Royle got massive stick on the terraces when he was introduced in to the first team, He proved the doubters wrong - lets see how Lukarku pans out he would score loads playing for the team with a midfield that was faster and creative his 9 goals in the prem have saved us from relegation imo!

The only way we as a club will see the full benefit of a player like Lukaku is by changing the way we play. Playing up top by himself isn't the problem; its how we as a team approach the final third to go at teams. He has his back to goal more often than not; he simply isn't that type of player.

Lukaku hasn't progressed as a player in my opinion for over a year now, its worrying but its not all down to just him, its the way we play. Its no surprise that he flourished in europe when the tactics were changed. Even still that doesn't excuse his lack of movement.

 

[DRM]

My hero Joe Royle got massive stick on the terraces when he was introduced in to the first team, He proved the doubters wrong - lets see how Lukarku pans out he would score loads playing for the team with a midfield that was faster and creative his 9 goals in the prem have saved us from relegation imo!

It will be interesting to see what all the negative posters on this form have to say then. Maybe they won't remember their posts.

It was a difficult season for him to begin with: at the WC he knew his dad was in the hospital and he called him every day (that's also why he said to the camera 'papa, je t'aime' after his goal against the usa-); then there was the saga of him playing for us/Chelsea not selling him; then there was the toe injury with which he had to keep on playing fo the team; then the death of Malanda, a close friend he had known since he was 12; then another injury.

If this all happened to any one of us, I'm pretty sure our work quality wouldn't be as good as our normal standard.
But since he cost us 28 mil, and he seems to have ambition, let's all forget the above and talk about how he's crap and that we should sell him.

He has the capabilties, he's proved it in some games (not enough, true) where he was unstoppable. But is it so weird for him (this year!!!) not to be able to focue every time? (And now some will say that it is because he makes a lot of money.)

 

[daz4matty]

How do you know he us going to get "twenty goals this season"?

Or that he will be a top player?

Certainly on yesterday's performance you wouldn't wager your farm on him scoring in the remaining two games.

But even if he does.....so what?

His goal return in the league has been paltry. Someone said he has scored only one goal from open play in the league since New Year.

And if that is true it was the one which went in off him at Palace.

Not oneimagined Rom being so bang average when we were all punching the air when he signed on permanently back in August.

Regarding him being young he has been around the EPL for three seasons now and has been to a World Cup already.

He is showing zero sign of improving.......in fact few would argue that he hasn't regressed this season.

I will be delighted if Rom flowers into the beast we believed him to be when next season starts.

But alas Matty, I am having my doubts.

He is starting to remind me of a precocious two year old racehorse which wiped the floor with the opposition as a juvenile.

But doesn't develop over the winter and is left standing when the other colts do.

He is on 19 goals now so i would think 1 more would be no problem.
He has not been brilliant this season but the way we have played for the first 6 or 7 months did not help him at all,coupled with him being played on the wing quite a bit.
I would like to see him with a partner up top and with us being a lot better in the final 3rd.
We need to play to his strengths more and that is down to the manager and his tactics.
Rom is a top centre forward though and a lot better upgrade on beattie,straq and jelavic.
We have been crying out for our top quality number 9 and if we play to his strengths and manage him right we have got him

 

[Khalekan]

He is on 19 goals now so i would think 1 more would be no problem.
He has not been brilliant this season but the way we have played for the first 6 or 7 months did not help him at all,coupled with him being played on the wing quite a bit.
I would like to see him with a partner up top and with us being a lot better in the final 3rd.
We need to play to his strengths more and that is down to the manager and his tactics.
Rom is a top centre forward though and a lot better upgrade on beattie,straq and jelavic.
We have been crying out for our top quality number 9 and if we play to his strengths and manage him right we have got him

He has scored nine league goals in how many games has he played.......about 27 ish?

That is less about a goal every three matches.

The law of averages is againt him scoring again

BTW I hope be bags a hat trick in each match

 

[daz4matty]

He has scored nine league goals in how many games has he played.......about 27 ish?

That is less about a goal every three matches.

The law of averages is againt him scoring again

BTW I hope be bags a hat trick in each match

I am going to prove you wrong on rom my friend.
He has 19 goals in all comps.
After a summers rest and providing his agent does not sell him,watch him go next season

 

[Khalekan]

I am going to prove you wrong on rom my friend.
He has 19 goals in all comps.
After a summers rest and providing his agent does not sell him,watch him go next season

You are Romelu Lukaku and I claim my ten pound prize

 

[dave abrahams]

He says he wants to be the best in the world, to be that sort of player you have to constantly learn , be ready to
sacrifice things, be hungry, fight for every ball, battle and scrap and be on the move all the time, Lukaku is static, never
moving about, pulling the opposition out of place, ball control is very poor, can't jump, quick to sulk and there is more
life in a nit nurses comb, don't think he will be a success at Everton, Mourino got it right in my opinion, but would love to be wrong, we'll see.

 

[Del]

Awful player

As over hyped as Barkley

 

[marty mcfly]

Yes but this season teams have sussed us out stop our full backs where else is the creativity?

Great question. The odd mazy run and shot from Mirallas and that's about it.

 

[marty mcfly]

So how bad must he have been at 16 before he had 5 years of playing football at a high level and being coached by top class coaches at that high level?

Either he was probably one of the worst players ever at that part of the game and has improved a lot since, or he has barely improved at all.

If a 21 year old made his first team debut at that age and then was still making really basic mistakes at 26 people wouldn't make excuses for him.

If he was having games where he didn't play well, inconstistencies over season like all young players i'd understand.

But people love to say how he's scored more goals at this age than pretty much every other top striker yet never compare his awful control and atempts at passing on a regular basis to those same players, i don't remember Sergio Agureo or Alan Shearer being unable to do the basics on a regular basis at 21 or after 5 years of first team football.

In fact name another 21 year old striker who actually plays through balls for opposition strikers because his control is so bad?

As always, Lukaku is an anonomoly for his age in that he excels in scoring goals but is pretty god damn awful at most other, basic parts of the game. Most 21 year olds will be more in the middle.

Sorry did you not watch the games in Europe where Rom practically dragged us through kicking and screaming?

His touch can be frustrating and I'm not sure how much it will improve either but he has a lot of other good qualities. He's just not being used well.